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Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Cyprus holds arms cargo, but for whom?


Cyprus inspects a ship, finds military equipment traveling under false bills of lading. Interpol says, "Smuggled arms. Perhaps from North Korea, maybe China." All reported here:
Cypriot officials are considering what to do with a Syria-bound ship held in Limassol port with a cargo of what is thought to be air defence equipment.

Police said 18 of the 21 lorries on board the Gregorio I were fitted with radars which "appear to be part of an air defence system".

Police said the cargo did not match the ship's documentation.
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The equipment was offloaded from the ship, which was detained in Limassol on 5 September.

The Cyprus Mail newspaper says customs must now give clearance for the cargo to be released.

There is no arms ban on Syria, but the authorities may still impose a fine for false description of the cargo, the paper says.
Well, hmmmm. Who, exactly will be stepping forward to pay the "fine?"

UPDATE: A Chinese radar system from here. I have no idea what system has been off-loaded from the ship. This is a guess. Some more systems here, click on "Products."

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